EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/137624
June 2013 The 18 personal identifiers that are considered protected health information cards are accepted, comply with Purchase Card Industry (PCI) security standards. Formulate instructions for staff to manage PHI by phone and email safely and consistently. Electronic patient correspondence should be sent through a secure web portal if possible. Change personal passwords on PCs frequently; activate automatic device log-outs; deactivate accounts of employees upon termination. Be alert to personal life disruptions of employees such as bankruptcy; most theft of PHI originates within the victimized organization. Our clinic manages all credit card transactions over telephone landlines; does not offer WiFi access in the office; does not participate on social media sites; rigorously enforces a zero-tolerance policy regarding personal use of the clinic's computers; has an only-as-neededfor-the-task access rule for staff; answers email only after patients accept a disclaimer explaining the transmission's generic risks such as hacking; and provides no telephonic PHI information other than to those individuals enumerated on the patient's signed HIPAA disclosure form. The clinic uses an electronic health record (EHR) that stores patient data offsite "in the cloud." One of the steepest fines levied by the HHS for misuse of PHI was assessed against a healthcare organization that the OIG deemed cavalier in prevention, uncooperative in response, and unregenerate in reform. Is our practice paranoid? Sure. But, as Joseph Heller observed, that doesn't mean they're not out to get us. EW n Fo rc ep s* * ™ in sk a :M 16 7 01 8- m bu ei M * or ss e pr Ex C om pr es si on 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. rs lle Ro ed os Cl E o si Ey el id 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. m ibu Me es pr x H ar dt en 3. Names All geographic subdivisions smaller than a state, including street address, city, county, precinct, zip code, and their equivalent geocodes a. The geographic unit formed by combining all zip codes with the same three initial digits contains more than 20,000 people. b. The initial three digits of a zip code for all such geographic units containing 20,000 or fewer people are changed to 000. All elements of dates (except year) for dates directly related to an individual, including birth date, admission date, discharge date, date of death, and all ages over 89 and all elements of dates (including year) indicative of such age, except that such ages and elements may be aggregated into a single category of age 90 or older. Telephone numbers Fax numbers Electronic mail addresses Social security numbers Medical record numbers Health plan beneficiary numbers Account numbers Certificate/license numbers Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers Device identifiers and serial numbers Web universal resource locators (URLs) Internet protocol (IP) address numbers Biometric identifiers, including finger and voice prints Full face photographic images and any comparable images Any other unique identifying number, characteristic, or code 801 71 7: 1. 2. Dry Eye Lid Squeezers Meibum Expression Is Recommended As A Subsequent Procedure To Meibomian Gland Probing, Insuring The Patency Of Meibomian Glands. Call 800-637-4346 For More Information. Or Visit www.RheinMedical.com Editors' note: Dr. Noreika has practiced ophthalmology in Medina, Ohio, since 1983. He has been a member of ASCRS for more than 30 years. Contact information Noreika: JCNMD@aol.com 3360 Scherer Drive, Suite B, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 s 4EL s &AX %MAIL )NFO 2HEIN-EDICALCOM s 7EBSITE WWW2HEIN-EDICALCOM $EVELOPED )N #OORDINATION 7ITH 3TEVEN , -ASKIN -$ $EVELOPED )N #OORDINATION 7ITH $AVID 2 (ARDTEN -$ 1321 Rev.B 2HEIN -EDICAL 3TYLIZED %YE BABB